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“The DON’Ts and DOs of Our Pursuits – Part 1” (1 Timothy 6:3-10)

First Baptist Church https://fbcbartow.org

Many of you know that there are certain DON’Ts and DOs when it comes to certain activities. For example, when you play golf, you DON’T drive your cart on the green. When you go fishing, you DO hold your rod tip up when reeling in a fish. When you handle a firearm, you DON’T point at anything that you’re not willing to shoot. When you’re singing, you DO breathe from your diaphragm. When you’re teaching a room of children, you DON’T allow the children to take control. When you go to Sam’s Club, you DO get the free samples. You get what I’m saying, right?

Well, there are some things we should do and some things we shouldn’t do when it comes to what we pursue as followers of Jesus.

Today’s sermon is entitled, “The DON’Ts and DOs of Our Pursuits – Part 1.” Obviously, there will be a part 2 to this series next time.

Before we go any further, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.

(prayer)

Well, we’re heading toward the finish line for 1 Timothy. Paul now starts to set the minds of Timothy and the believers in Ephesus on what they should and should not do as they pursue Jesus and pursue their life as followers of Jesus.

So, let’s look at the passage together. Look at 1 Timothy 6:3-10:

3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Ok, we’ll walk through this passage in two sermons. In part 1, we’re going discover two DON’Ts. Next time, we’ll discover two DOs.

So, let’s look at these DON’Ts. First, Paul instructs that we . . .

‌I. Don’t pursue false teaching

Paul begins this section of his letter by speaking in a very condemning way about false teachers.

Of course, Paul has already condemned false teachers elsewhere.

But, in this passage, Paul goes on to describe some of the evil reasons for false teaching and some of the evil consequences of false teaching.

First of all, let’s look at the evil reasons behind false teaching.

Paul says in verse 4 that these false teachers are conceited and understand nothing.

In other words, they are arrogant and ignorant. That’s a bad combination, isn’t it?

These false teachers think they know everything, but they really understand nothing.

Paul also says that this person has an unhealthy interest in disputes. This person just likes to argue.

I can tell you, as a pastor, I’ve met some people who just like to argue. I can confirm that usually, they are arrogant and ignorant.

These kinds of people are not healthy for themselves or for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must not be like these people, and we must be cautious of these types of people.

Next, Paul goes on to describe some of the evil consequences of their false teaching.

Look at verses 4 and 5. Paul says from these people come “ . . . envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement . . .”

He then says that they are “depraved and deprived of the truth.”

Church, let me assure you that we should watch out for anyone who is both arrogant and ignorant AND depraved and deprived.

Not only must we watch out for those types of people, we should not be those types of people.

We must not be false teachers, and we must not tolerate false teachers.

Don’t pursue false teaching.

Well, let’s look at the second DON’T:

‌II. Don’t pursue riches

Pay attention to the last part of verse 5. Paul, speaking about some of the motivations of the false teachers, says that these false teachers “ . . . imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.”

Some of you have probably heard this false teaching, right?

There has been a cancer that has plagued the modern Church that claims that the pursuit of godliness results in material riches.

What a ridiculous, unbiblical, foolish, evil notion. Godliness does not equate to earthly riches. Godliness and worldly riches are totally independent of one another.

One can be totally holy while being totally financially broke. So also, one can be tremendously wealthy in the eyes of the world while also being spiritually bankrupt.

Likewise, it is entirely possible for someone to be close to God and very wealthy (as Abraham was in the Old Testament). So also, one can be totally evil and also be totally poor.

So, we must not buy into the lie of these false teachers in Timothy’s day, nor false teachers today, who teach that godliness is a way to material gain.

What’s more, Paul warns us against the pursuit of riches for the sake of riches. Listen again to what he says in verses 9-10:

9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I mean, just listen to how Paul describes this. He uses strong language, such as temptation, trap, foolish, harmful, ruin, destruction, evil, wandering, and piercing.

We must be careful to note that Paul doesn’t say money in and of itself is evil.

Many godly people have lots of money. In fact, if you have a place to lay your head and food to eat, you are wealthier than a huge portion of our world. If you have a vehicle, you are stinkin’ rich compared to a lot of the world!

Paul does not say that money is evil. It’s the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil.

You see, the love of money will plant a root in our hearts that grows and blossoms into sin.

The root of the love of money will cause greed to blossom in our hearts.

The root of the love of money will cause the desire for power to blossom in our hearts.

The root of the love of money will cause lying and cheating to blossom in our hearts.

Prioritizing money as more important than it should be in our lives will lead us away from that which is most important, and into a life that is worth far less than that which God designed for us.

So, how do we know how much money we must have? What should make us happy? Well, I’m glad that you asked.

Look again at verse 6. Paul says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Contentment means being satisfied with what we have.

Paul says that to be godly and to be satisfied with whatever God has given you is great gain. In other words, if you really want to be blessed, then pursue the ways of God and learn to be happy with what God has given you.

Paul continues in verses 7-8, “7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”

Food and clothing: that’s what Paul mentions. That’s the standard for what the Bible teaches that we truly need. Everything else is above and beyond that.

Paul says we should be content with these.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with having more than food and clothing, but we must not be caught up in the pursuit of more stuff.

When we’re not content with what God has given us, and we’re not pursuing godliness, we can start to go down a path of sin.

As we’ve already learned in verses 9-10, those who pursue riches are potentially led into all kinds of evil.

So, let us not pursue riches; let us pursue godliness and contentment; and let us experience great gain.

Paul says at the end of verse 10 that “ . . . some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Don’t wander away from the faith, don’t pierce yourself with many griefs.

Don’t love money. Instead, use it for God’s glory and God’s kingdom.

Don’t prioritize money more than you should. Consider it as a tool entrusted to you by God to use for His glory, His kingdom, and His mission in your life.

Don’t pursue riches; pursue Jesus.

If God sends worldly riches your way, then use them for His glory.

If God does not send worldly riches your way, remember that there is an inheritance that awaits you in heaven to which the pocket change of this world cannot compare.

The riches of this world are temporary. The riches of God are better, and they are forever.

Let this bottom line summarize the truth from this passage:

‌Bottom Line: Self-centered pursuits are not God-centered pursuits.

Isn’t this obvious, church? If you’re constantly pursuing what you want, you won’t be pursuing what God wants.

The motivation behind the false teachers was self-centered. The motivation behind pursuing riches is self-centered.

Self-centered pursuits are not God-centered pursuits.

Let us recognize some of the DON’Ts of our pursuits.

Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:

‌Weekly Challenge #1 – Consider your motivations.

What motivates you?

If I ask my kids to clean up their toys, they may slowly start to meander over there and pick up the toys. However, if I say, “As soon as you pick up your toys, we’ll go to the Family Fun Center.” Hey, things start to happen.

Likewise, if my wife asks me to stop working at the computer, I may tell her that I have some stuff that has to get done. However, if she asks me to stop working at the computer so we can go to Sonny’s BBQ. Boom! I’m up from that computer.

Motivation matters!

So, what motivates you?

The apostle Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

Are you motivated to live your life for the glory of God or for something else? Think about that this week.

‌Weekly Challenge #2 – Commit to pursue godliness.

C. S. Lewis (a great Christian thinker and author of The Chronicles of Narnia) said this: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Listen, church: you were not made merely for this world. Only God can truly satisfy. Find your joy and contentment in Him.

Challenge yourself to pursue godliness this week.

(closing prayer)

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